Inmate charged with battery

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

GREENCASTLE -- A Putnamville Correctional Facility inmate has been charged in Putnam County Circuit Court with Class B felony aggravated battery after he allegedly assaulted another inmate.

An initial hearing for Debery Coleman, 38, has been set for Oct. 8.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Coleman struck another offender at Putnamville on Aug. 10, causing the alleged victim to fall to the ground.

The alleged victim "was treated at the facility for head injuries and was ultimately transported by helicopter to Wishard Memorial Hospital," the affidavit said.

Once at Wishard, the alleged victim was put into the intensive care unit and on a ventilator, court records said. He was subsequently diagnosed with a right subdural hematoma and was transferred from Wishard to the infirmary at the Plainfield Correctional Facility.

Witnesses told police Coleman struck the alleged victim.

In an interview with prison personnel after the incident, Coleman said he had been confronted by the alleged victim and two other offenders after being accused of taking an item out of another offender's property.

"He stated they were surrounding him and he felt threatened," court documents said.

Coleman did admit to striking the alleged victim in the face, but said "he did not intend to hurt anyone and he was just trying to get out of danger."

Coleman was sentenced in Elkhart County on June 12, 2006 to 18 years on a conviction for Class B felony aggravated battery. On Aug. 27, 2008, he received an additional six months on a battery charge and three years on a theft and receiving stolen count, both through Lake County. The Indiana Department of Correction Web site lists Coleman's earliest possible release date as May 24, 2014.

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  • "he did not intend to hurt anyone and he was just trying to get out of danger." So, was that the statement he used on August 27, 2008?

    Theft: They said I could keep it.

    Receiving stolen property: I was keeping it for a friend. He said he'd be right back.

    -- Posted by Dagnabbit on Wed, Sep 23, 2009, at 10:11 AM
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